Muslim leaders in Manchester report rise in Islamophobic incidents

Senior members of Muslim community say they have received reports of abusive behaviour since Manchester Arena attack

Muslim leaders in Manchester have expressed concern about a number of Islamophobic incidents in the city, from verbal abuse to criminal damage to mosques.

Senior members of the Muslim community say that they have received reports of abusive behaviour since the attack on Manchester Arena earlier this week.

Fawzi Haffar, trustee of the Manchester Islamic Centre in Didsbury, where Salman Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber, is understood to have prayed, said: "We are concerned about reports we are receiving about anti-Muslim acts. These are terrible anti-Muslim acts ranging from verbal abuse to acts of criminal damage to mosques in the area and outside the area. We do encourage any incidents to be reported as a hate crime."

Mohammed Ullah, Muslim chaplain at University of Manchester, said that he had heard reports of a Muslim girl being spat at and another Muslim person being told to "go home". An arsonist attacked a mosque in Oldham, Greater Manchester, shortly after the atrocity.

"We hear reports but many people are very scared to talk about the problem or they don't want to cause a fuss," Ullah told the Guardian. "We receive reports but I think incidents are under-reported."

"Islamophobic attacks have increased in the last few years exponentially," he went on. "I tell Muslim students to report these hate incidents when they happen. Be vigilant against it and don't allow hate to divide us."

Speaking outside the Didsbury mosque, Haffar sought to dispel reports that Abedi had worked at the centre, and said: "We express concern that a small section of the media are manufacturing stories and making unfounded points."

He also expressed his outrage at the attack, calling it a "horrific atrocity" and saying "this act of cowardice has no place in our religion or any other religion". He encouraged anyone with information to contact the police.

But Ullah said that Muslims should not be expected to apologise for the actions of extremists.

"I say to Muslims you should not have to apologise for the actions of individuals," he said. "No other community has ever been held to account like this. Let me be clear  what happened on Monday was a crime of epic proportions. It was epic, evil and one we condemn with the strongest condemnation.

"But let's also be clear about this  why do we then have to stand up and say: we apologise'? It's not my fault. It's not the fault of the religion."

"We're sick of having to apologise and being the first to condemn it. What more can we do? Tell me what more can we do?"